Book holder and reading case



oct. s, 1957 Filed April 20. 1955 G. D. BERETH BooK HOLDER AND READING CASE 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVEN TOR. Bf/Pf 7' /rf ABYI GEORGE D.

BOOK HOLDER AND READING CASE George D. Bereth, Woodland Hills, Calif.

Application April 20, 1955, Serial No. 502,654

9 Ciaims. (Cl. 45--S6) This invention relates to a book holder and reading case and, more particularly, to improvements therein.

It oftentimes is desirable to read and study from more than one text at one time. In the reading thereof, it is necessary and desirable to have these books sirnultaneously opened and available, so that cross reference from one to the other may be easily made. It will be appreciated that facilities for holding two or more books in an easily accessible manner for reading and cross reference are not frequently found.

An object ot this invention is to provide a book holder and reading case which holds two or more books opened in a manner to permit easy cross reference between them when in an opened position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable hook holder and reading case which holds more than one book.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved and useful book holder and reading case.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a book holder and reading case which in one embodiment consists of two boxes hinged at one side, so that they can be closed to form a small carrying case. A handle and lock are provided on the side opposite the hinge, so that the carrying case may be easily carried about. Inside the book holder there is space available for carrying several books and pamphlets. Two lids are provided in the book holder, one for each box. One of these lids is hinged at one end to the inside of one box so that it may be rotated out of the box. Attached to its inner face is a supporting rod whereby the lid, when rotated out of the box, may be supported by the rod at an angle to enable a book to be held in reading position on said lid. The other lid is attached to the other box. A pair of supporting rods are attached to the inner face of the other lid at one end and to the bottom of the inside f the other box in a manner so that the other lid may be swung out of the other box to have one end supported by the hinged portion of the two boxes and the other end by the pair of supporting rods. Thus, a second book may be readily held by this second lid.

On the end of the second lid there is hingeably mounted a clamp member to enable a pamphlet to be held therein in reading position. Thus, in the operated or open position, there is afforded means whereby at least two books and a pamphlet are held to enable ready cross reference between them. When not required, the books and pamphlet are inserted under the lids, which can then be collapsed into the boxes, and the arrangement can then be closed into a compact carrying case.Y

lf desired, the hinging may be omitted and the arrangement can be constructed of one large box with partitions and lids to present the same arrangement as is obtained when the portable book holder is open. This may then be placed on top of a library table or may be provided with legs to be usable independently of a table.

The novel features that are consideredvcharacteristic arent G 2,308,680 Patented Oct. 8, 1957 of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description when read in con# nection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l, which shows the embodiment of the invention in closed form suitable for carrying the books;

Figure 2, which is a View in perspective of lthe embodiment of the invention opened and in operating position;

Figure 3, which is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention taken along the lines 3 3 of Figure 1, except that the invention is shown opened and in both operated and unoperated position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention constructed of one piece without hinges and which is suitable for use on a library table; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention constructed of one piece and in the form of a table.

The reading case and book holder shown in Figure 1 include .two rectangular boxes 10, 12 which have one open face and are connected at one side by hinges 14 as may be seen in Figure 2. This enables the two boxes to be closed in an abutting manner, as shown in Figure l, to provide a carrying case for books. The hinges also enable the boxes to be opened, whereby a first and second lid 16, 18 may be raised from the insides of the boxes by means of leather handles 17, 19 into an operating position. At the sides of the boxes opposite the hinge, there is attached to the case a handle 20 and a lock 22, which may be of any suitable type, to hold the arrangement in closed position.

Attached to the second lid 1S is what may be described as a clamp member 23. This clamp member is suitable for inserting pamphlets 24 or other literature. The clamp member holds a pamphlet in upright position. Books Z6, 28 such as shown in Figure 3 are supported on the two lids. The first lid 16, when not in use, lits inside the first box 10, and rests on four posts 30, each of which is fastened in a corner. These four posts serve to support the lid when it is folded inside the box, so that it is close to the open face of the box and leaves enough room under it for a book. The second lid 18 when folded inside the other box also rests on four posts 30 just inside the open face of the boxes, whereby the box may be closed without any dit`n`culty.

The first lid ishingeably attached to the inside of the rst box by a pair of hinges 32. This enables the rst lid to be swung out of the box when required for use, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3. A supporting post 34 is hingeably attached to the inside face of the rst lid, so that when the lid is raised, the post will swing downward and enable the lid to be supported at an angle convenient for reading. The sides of the iid may have a small, limiting edge, to prevent the book from sliding off the sides.

The second lid 18 has attached to the inner face a pair of supporting posts 33. These are attached at the end of the lid which is toward the carrying side of the box. The other ends of the pair of supporting posts aire hingeably attached to the inside of the second box along a line parallel to the hinged side of the box and next to that side. With this arrangement, the second lid may be swung out of the box in the manner shown by the dotted 'lines in Figure 3, to assume a convenient angle for supporting for reading a book placed thereon as well as enabling ready reference to the other books. The end of the second lid may be restedV against the front of the box and directly over the first lid. The rods or posts 38 are then resting against the back of the second box and arepreventedfrorn going farther. A

lip, or edge, is placed on the end of the second lid as well as along its other edges to prevent the slippage of any book placed thereon. At the end of the second lid, to which the supportingposts are pivotally attached, but on the other face there isV hingeably lmounted a clamping means 23,'w'hich can be swung intoV an' upright position as shown by the dotted lines in"Fi`gure"3. A pamphlet or miscellaneous sheets of 4literature may be inserted in the clamping member and held' for facile reading, as well as to enable easy cross reference toV the remainder of the literature held inthe book holder. The back edge of the clamping member is shaped to engage the second lid Yso 'that it cannot be swung beyond a desired treading angle and-will'be supported substantially vertically. When the two lids areV collapsed into Vthe boxes, books may be carried underneath them. Y The two lids are provided with slidinglocks 42, 44, which hold them in" the collapsed position andprevent the books from forcing open the carrying 'case as a result of Yexcessive shaking.

Since in libraries or around the home it is not necessary to have the book holder closed to form a portable valise, Figure 4 shows a perspective View of an'embodiment of the invention made in one piece in the open arrangement which can be kept on a convenient table. The like functioning parts bear corresponding numbers. There is a centerpiece Sti which divides the large box into two smaller b oxes or into a pair of boxes which abut one another and which serves the function of a'stop or rest for the rod 38 when in opened position and also serves as a partial support for the corner posts 30 (shown in Figure 3). Except for the one piece construction of the boxes and the centerpiece, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 is identically constructed and used as the embodiment ofthe invention shown in Figures l, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the embodiment ofthe invention equipped with legs 52 so that it can be independently used asa reading table. VThe construction, except forthe legs, is the same as isshown for Figure 4. Similar functioning parts bear similar reference numerals. This table is suitable for libraries or in the home where it is desired lto use regular table space for 'other purposes. i A

Accordingly, there has been shown `and described a novel and useful book holder and reading case, which holds a plurality of books as well as other miscellaneous pamphlets in comfortable reading position while enabling ready cross reference'tljereof, and may be made portable if desired. i A

I claim:

l. A book holder` andreading case comprising a pair of boxes each having an open face, said pair of, boxes abutting one another at one' side, a iirst and second lid, irst collapsible means to support said irst'lid from one of said pair 'of boxes at a desired book reading angle, second collapsible means to support said second lid tirom said other of said pair or" boxes at a desired book reading angle, said second collapsible means being adapted to support said second lid at a desired reading angle over said lirst lid, both said lids respectively fitting into said pair of boxes when said collapsible means is collapsed, and a clamp member attached to said second lid.

2. A book holder and reading case as recited in claim 1 wherein saidv pair of boxes comprise two halves of a single large box separated by a partition.

3. A book holder and reading case as recited in claim 1 wherein said pair of boxes are supported` on legs.y

V4. A book holder and reading case as recited i-n claim l wherein said pair of boxes are fastened by l'iinges-where they abut one another.

5. A book holder and reading case comprising a single box open at one side, a partition dividing said single box into two boxes, a iirst lid adapted to' nt. within one of said two boxes, hinge means connecting one end of said lid to the inside of one of said two boxes to enable said irst lid to be rotated about said one end of said one box, a supporting rod, means to hingeably attach said rod to said rst lid whereby said supporting rod may be moved to support said first 'lid at an angle when it is raised from said box to serve as a booktrest, a second lid adapted to tit within the other of said two boxes, means for supporting said second lid over said iirst lid including a pair of supporting rods, means for hingeably attaching one end of said pair of rods to one face of said second lid near one end of said second lid, means for hingeably attaching the other end of said pair of rods to the inside of said other of said two boxes parallel to and near the side wherey said partition is positioned whereby said second lid if desired may be moved outward from said box over said first lid, and a clamp member hingeably mounted on said second 'lid to the other face and near said one edge to provide a pamphlet holder.

6. A portable book holder and reading case comprising a pair of boxes each having an open face, hinge means tof-asten said pair of boxes at one side to enable their opening 'and closing in open-face abutting relationship, a first and second lid, collapsible meansV to support said iii'st lid lfrom one of said pair of boxes at a desired book reading angle, collapsible means adapted to support said second lid from said other of said pair of boxes at a desired book reading angle in conjunction with said rst lid and also over said first lid, and a clamp member attached to said second lid.

7. A portable book holder and reading case comprising a first and second box each having an open face, means to hin'geably connect said two boxes to enable their closing inabutting relationship to form a single closed box, a first and Va second lid, means to support said lids respectively inside'said iirst and second box and near their open faces, hinge means connecting one end of said rst lid to said iirst box whereby said tirst lid may be rotated to extend out of said first box, means to support said first lidatnan acute angle when rotated out of said first box, means including a pair of hingeably connected rods to support said second. lid over said first lid, and clamp means attached to lsaid second lid at one end and adapted to'be pivoted to a convenient Aposition relative to the position of said second lid.

8. A portable book holder and reading case comprising two boxes each having one side open, hinge means to connect said two boxes4 to enable their closing in abutting relationship to forma single closed box, a first lid adapted to t within one of sa id 't'wo`boxes, hinge means connecting one end of said lid to the' inside of one of said two boxes to'enable 'said iirst lid to be` rotated about said one end out of said one boxfa supporting rod, means to hingeably attach` said'rod'to. said first lid whereby said supporting rod'rnay be moved to support said first lid at an angle when it raisedffrom said box4 to serve as a bookrest, a second lid adapted Vto iit withinV the other of said two boxes, a pair of supporting rods, means for hingeably attaching one end of said pair of rods to one face of said second lid near one end of said second lid, means for hingeably attaching the: other end of said pair of rods to the inside of said other of said two boxes parallel to and near the side to whichsaid hinge means connects said two boxes whereby saidI second lid may be moved outward from said box toprovide a second bookrest, and a clamp member hingeably mounted on saidsecond lid to the other face and near said one edgetoprovide a pamphlet holder.

i 9. A portable book holder andY reading case as recited in claim 8 whereinvin thecorners on the inside of said boxes there' areattalched spacermembers having a length to perlmiteach ot'y said lidsto be supported inside said respective boxesfspaced (from the facejoipposite said open faces to enablebooxks'to beY carried in said space.

(References on followingA page)` References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Hendrickson July 23, 1929 Bonetti May 2, 1939 Unger June 9, 1942 Sullivan et al July 19, 1949 Abbott Feb. 12, 1952 

